Dealership Politics -ETCG1

[@kaje01]

When dealing with "those personalities", micromanagers, and people who constantly try to interfere with you, I find the best is advice to remember is: "Smile, nod, agree. Then do whatever you were going to do anyways"

[@neilsdahlberg1323]

+kevin smith hah--excellent strategy..

[@SpencerLowe-kg4rg]

Especially if you are on the lot. But you gotta watch out and do the best of your job.

[@PearComputingDevices]

It's all about power, or at least the illusion of power and as long as your working for someone else, that's going to be an issue.

[@KariIzumi1]

kevin smith yep, basically.

[@mcdatacomm155]

Right on.... let them think they're winners and they've won

[@junepictures]

This video nailed it, I worked at a dealership for 4 years. You never know who is going to backstab you.

[@spacepirateivynova]

When I was working at a shop, and making a pittance, I was basically terminated because I liked to tell the customer what was going on with their vehicle, and the shop owner was all about taking the customer for a ride if they could. Simple ground issues for a light turned into huge costs to replace a wiring harness. Something that was extremely easy to fix with 10 minutes and a soldering iron turned into the car being left in the bay over a weekend without anything being done to it. Working for a dishonest shop owner taught me more about the industry than anything else. His volume was low, because people figured out his game, and for a local 'gas station' garage... local notoriety is everything. This guy didn't understand that. I don't know how many times I got in trouble working there because of having to use broken equipment (I had an oil tank basically explode because of a busted regulator on the drain, causing a huge geyser of old oil out back) or just telling the customer what I did to the car and what might need to be done in the future... Now I work freelance, and it tends to be a lot better even though I don't have the same kind of access to equipment that I did at the shop, but I can be assured that the work I do is right, the tools I use work, and the advice i give customers is solid.

[@georgedoughly6344]

Grim Dark End That shop owner you used to work for was a Lying Asshole!

[@picklerix6162]

Mice had eaten through some wires to the headlight on my relative's car. When he took it to the dealership, the service writer wanted to replace the whole wiring harness at a cost of $800. He ended up splicing the wires himself. The mice had also partially chewed the insulation off of some of the other wires, exposing the copper. I let him use my liquid electrical tape to fix those wires.

[@martiniindustries]

For what it's worth, this is the nature of WORKPLACE politics, and applies to any number of professional organizations. People are people, no matter where they work!

[@tewilk]

I'm in computer field and it's the same other than being fed work. The butt kisser get raises more often and don't do nearly as much.

[@SpencerLowe-kg4rg]

Even in school, I just ignore it and do my thing.

[@brettheller9257]

Only the place changes the people you deal with are the same (personality, attitude, Etc.)

[@EclecticHillbilly]

Worked in dealerships for years. I've seen guys sit on their tool boxes rather than do a small warranty job, they all fight over the gravy jobs, and nobody wants to do the hard stuff. And there's always 3-4 guys who have to be "king of the line". Had one guy, worst butcher I ever worked with, who would order a part he knew the parts department didn't have so he could get in the gravy line. A strong service manager can make things work and a weak service manager results in chaos. And I never worked in a shop where the best mechanic was the highest paid guy. The highest paid guy was always a guy who knew how to pencil whip tickets and turn comebacks into something else they could get paid for.

[@angiestenbak3936]

after working at a buick gmc for a year now politics represent a huge factor. how much work you get, how you move up and how much you make circles around these politics and skill comes second. all I can say is keep your area clean, stay to yourself and focus on customer satisfaction.

[@michaelmiller4716]

I wasted a lot of time,energy and frustration because I thought the dispatcher/service writers were being 'unfair to some of us based on their relationship with their 'favorite' techs. I wasted so much time on this that it affected my work, my personal relationships, and my attitude towards the customers and co-workers. It also contributed greatly to poor shop morale among my co-workers as I tried to assemble' advocates' to agree with me and 'be on my side'. I finally realized that I am responsible for my own work and not be concerned what is going on in other stalls, that life is too short to try to change that which cannot be changed, and to let go of trying to control what I thought others should be doing. Life became much easier when that revelation settled in for me.

[@ETCG1]

Wow, that's very big of you. Props for posting this comment.

[@JoeFpoc]

reminds me of when i was EMT for a few years. when i partnered up with someone who was in good with the dispatchers we would be put in nice neighborhoods and get easy calls. so guess that happens everywhere

[@dssk1023]

Had a recall on my rear drum brakes about a year ago. Took it in to the dealer they told me to pick it up the next afternoon. 5 days later I finally got my truck back. A year passed about a week ago and my brakes feel like crap. Took the drums off to check them out and see what was up and the shoes are worn down to the rivets (no brake material left at all). I called the dealer and spoke to the manager to tell him what happened and he said theres no way they didn't put the new parts on. I said to him so, the original brakes lasted 92,xxx miles and these "new" ones only last 10,xxx miles? And he said "he has seen this before." So at this point I was pissed. I called the manufacturers headquarters and got a lady on the phone that didn't know the first thing about vehicles or vehicle maintenance. She told me I had to go back to the original dealership and pay them an hour of labor for them to verify the problem before they sent me the new parts. I laughed at her until she hung up and bought the parts and fixed it myself. This is why I do my own work.

[@Aaronsmith467]

Working in a dealership can make you go insane. You really need to keep to yourself, be stable and have peace of mind or you just might end up giving someone a black eye and a bloody nose.

[@milboltnut]

You're not alone.... been there. Got fired over favoritism not just nepotism/ego's/politics, It really knocked me down hard. Dealerships to me was a pain, I only had one experience and you had to be really careful working on new cars, and dealing with dumb customers. One case was replacing a fuel pump in a tank.... the girl ran out of gas, and I got the run around about how I installed the pump's' from senior techs.

[@johnferguson7235]

I always search out independent shops. My current mechanic has worked on all of my vehicles for the last 6 years. I don't take my car to anyone else. He has been a mechanic for 30 years. He is a one man operation so sometimes he can't fix the car in one day but he always fixes in right. He doesn't just throw parts at it hoping that it will work. He gives me a 20% discount compared to the dealership labor rates. Take care of your mechanic and he will take care of you car. I like to bring a bottle of good whiskey or a Starbucks card or something to let him know that I appreciate his work.

[@paulxaviercyr]

Dealership politics... you could dedicate an entire *channel* to this. My advice is to be early, stay late, don't take so many smoke breaks, don't make friends, don't make enemies and stay ahead on training and certs. Just flat out work the other guys. Hell, even pop in on a Saturday if you have a job on the rack. I tell my service writer it's "New Money Monday" when the rack is clear and "Open floor, I need sum-more" when my flat bay is empty. You're there to make money, just ignore the other techs. Fuck'em Keep the customers happy, service writer happy and service manager happy. I have also learned over the years to let my work speak for me, I don't talk to other techs anymore.

[@everettclunie3525]

Bummer man. I get along with almost everybody I work with. I've also almost come to blows with a close friend (rather recently) at work but we're grown ups and we can move on. Still friends. It's true money comes first at work but I've made some good friends at my job and my life's better for it

[@MrGoldenwaffler]

Bang on

[@PHXGlock]

+Paul Cyr You are sooooooo right on. Fellas this is good advice. Hold your cards close and keep moving.

[@paulxaviercyr]

My situation changed since I posted this. The cancer (our foreman) got promoted to customer due to performance and attendance issues. Now our group works better together and the playful banter is back. It may not stay like this forever but it's cool for now. My advise still stands though, keep work a place where work gets done. I stay out of personal crap and keep lines clearly drawn.

[@danr5105]

+Paul Cyr I have made life long (well I am not dead yet) friends from the guys I worked with, I do not buy into the "I do not talk to others"

[@JackMacyntire]

Ego issues and politics apply in all industries. I used to work in childcare and it was exactly the same. People are people.

[@klmartin1962]

I have made some really good friends at the dealer over the years, but I learned quickly that they would almost all throw you under the bus, if it would make them look good. With that said, I did develop certain skills a new tech should develop prior to working in a dealership environment. First and foremost, if there is any weakness in your skill set, they will be magnified. In the high volume, high pressure environment of the dealer, there is no faking it. Next, as the new guy, get ready to get every crap job there is for the first year. Think of it as an initiation period. Knock these jobs out, stick it out, and you will be amazed at the speed you develop along the way. I have turned in 80+ hours of warranty labor in a 40 hour work week several times. But I put in my year of 25 hour weeks to get there. After a time, the service writers get to know who does good work quickly, and they push work at them. Make friends with the other techs, just don't completely trust them. It is cutthroat, but it is a lot of fun, too.

[@leolee1959]

Hi Eric & Everyone reading this; After 35 years observing folks who do manual work and/or paper work; I observe INCOMPETENT folks always brag the loudest, habitually apple polish and knows someone important in management/owner. The solution - keep a low profile, talk less, complete the tasks at hand & most importantly, LEARN as much and as quickly as you can. Attend courses - improve your knowledge/gain qualifications & you will also network with like-minded & most probably, competent folks who are focus in their Life goals. If the organization is technically competent & well-run; it would generally be filed by competent folks who cannot stand apple-polishers. You should stay in that type of company. If the organization turns out to be filled with ass-holes; jump ship as soon as you can. Their reputation is or will soon be well known within the trade - you do not wish to be associated with them. People with BIG Egos; you will find them everywhere. They usually crawl out from a dwelling filled with boastful parents / brothers / uncles / cousins, etc, etc. Life is a learning journey & the wise knows how little we actually know. When you are truly competent, folks will generally seek your service and advice. People who stay in large car dealerships; eg GM, Toyota, etc, etc, are usually the risk-adverse sort. They are careful not to antagonize fellow workers and usually wont back you in any open confrontation ( even when you have not done any wrong ). I wont choose them as a buddy or friend. I have never work for any extended period as an employee because I get ( and am ruthless enough to ) things done the proper AND effective way. NOBODY (usually) stands in my way. I loathe apple-polishers & imbeciles who hold any seniority over my post. I have more than my fair share of falling-out with employers / imbecile seniors and have the satisfaction of giving them a good telling-off. For the truly imbeciles & huge egos - there is always the choice to sue the shit out of them or get a statutory or government body to look into their malpractices. Life can be good, life can be cruel. Strike out on your own and if you are truly competent, you have nothing to fear. Associating with Lawyers and perhaps even Underworld characters - will teach you how to manage the despicable members of our species. Your language and choice of word will usually deter most of them. Hope this helps for - anyone who is bullied or cowed by any playground "toughie".

[@UCBoxer]

What you're saying is you can't keep a job because you have authority issues.

[@olivertaylor4779]

The problem is that the senior douchebag person often pushes back with an 'official warning', if your not a good little sheep you won't last there long, especially at larger garages where there is a queue of people ready to take your place -according to management.Your completely disposable according to them.

[@1mchartmann]

This business is loaded with backstabbing, no people skills psychopaths.

[@ZombieCraftSlaya]

Litterally all my coworkers im starting to move on up doing more jobs and they keep bullshitting me saying I cant do it and its like pulling teeth and I get the done flawlessly such a fucking headache with these people

[@Deejscorner]

Hello Erik. I have worked in a dealerships for 7 years. I agreee with most everything you have said. I would simply add that anywhere you go there are politics. The best way to protect yourself from politics is through integrity. If you strive to do the right thing, good will come. If that doesnt happen, than you may want to find another dealership to work @. Integrity and hard work , will always pay off. Whether its where you work now or somewhere else because of the Reputation you create.

[@VoodooDon]

And never ever piss off your parts department LOL

[@rogerhinman5427]

As a former parts guy...LOL :)

[@richardsquires6534]

Service writers that USED TO BE techs 20 years ago... With the 'he makes more money than I did' atitude. Ugh... The labor rate was $25.00 per hour back then. (this was the 90's) Watch your back. yeah... sometimes people have an axe to grind and it has nothing to do with you personally, but they WILL grind it on anyone they can. Great subject!

[@cruyeda]

I bought a brand new Nissan pickup from the biggest dealer in Los Angeles. Universal Nissan. The price was better than everyone else, however, my first service was $300. I went to a local shop that works on German cars and Japanese cars. His name was Wolfgang, with German accent. The same service cost $99! I bought an Audi Avante, brand new. After 2 years, I could hear the fuel pump going so it went in under warranty. I told the service writer that fuel pump was going out. He called over the mechanic and I explained the noise. He agreed that it sounded like the fuel pump. Audi's have 2 pumps, they replaced one and within a week, the car died. I was so pissed!

[@frankgonzalez24]

When I was fired, I just started working on a customer wait vehicle (30 min oil change). The gm called to discuss some work issues and other things that didn't involve work. I had grown tired of him and told him off. He fired me on the spot. After he fired me, I went and put away my tools, locked up my box, left the car on the lift, didn't tell anyone I was fired and left. About 15 minutes after I left, I get a call from the service writer wanting to know were I was at because it was past the 30 minutes for the oil change. I told him what happened told him to get someone else to finish the job and hung up. The next day I went to pick up my box and the gm was on me for leaving the customer waiting blah, blah, blah.....I ignored him, loaded up my box and left. That Friday, I went to the bar I and some of the employees hang out on pay day Friday and was told by the employees, the gm was royally ticked off after I told him off then again when I ignored him while I was picking up my box. The smile on my face, PRICELESS!!!!

[@ianlally1354]

Frank Gonzalez Whoa, we got a badass here.

[@fuckjewtube69]

Its stories like these that I know from experience are pretty BS. They never make any sense. They always make it sound like the guy "under" the boss was in the right and nothing was his fault when 99% of the time in real life its the exact opposite and the worker really doesn't understand responsibility or what he's doing wrong and the boss is trying to babysit. So the GM just left the car on the lift because he's a completely clueless idiot like its his first day on the job and he didn't tell anyone what happened so someone else can finish the car? But yet he gave you shit the next day when you were picking up your box for "making the customer wait" when HE FIRED YOU and presumably knew you left the building. You're full of it kid. Full of shit and guys like you get weeded out. You're the get weeded out kid. In reality when that happens the boss tells the service writer or foreman "I got rid of that idiot, get someone to finish the car". He doesn't get emotional and hide in the corner and not talk to anybody lmfao.

[@mcanderson3511]

I worked in a handful of dealerships, totaling 25 years (19 years at Honda)! This just might be the most interesting KZbin video I've ever seen on the subject. I know, I'm a little late to this party. The comments are excellent.

[@vettefever67]

I worked at a Honda dealership as a detailer and I can say that the type of people in that shop (not a generalization) were either nice people or total bullies. No in between. The experience was great but what Eric is saying is pretty true. The egos get in the way and often they look down on others.

[@Joe11Blue]

Just simpletons resorting to the only thing they understand, being douchebags...

[@vettefever67]

Joe11Blue Agreed.

[@caseyshobert7794]

I worked as an entry level tech at a dealership, Only stayed there for about 2 months and every thing you spoke about i witnessed. i would say the return rate was very high at this particular dealership (quiting, fired, hired).

[@KaiTakApproach]

This could stand in for any other industry as well. Know human behavior, know your office dynamic, know when to shut up, stand up or walk away. And only know any of it, really, in hindsight!

[@PHXGlock]

Eric very good advice , watch your back, work hard and focus on making the advisors and the service manager happy. One of the good things about staying a a dealer for awhile is the tech get used to you and you get used to them, it's that first year that is tricky. Best advice, dont tell anyone how many hours you made especially if its good and dont tell the other techs what you make per hour either.

[@rtn1911]

I work in an office and always have. I agree with a lot of what you've said, but what you describe is workplace politics in general, not just the politics of working within a dealership organization. Good video!

[@bsscards3593]

Watch your back, yes. Friends aren't really friends most times. Even in our team system where we share hours.

[@Supra9772]

Btw great video!. I used to work for a dealership here in Canada(Quebec) as a sales coordinator. My position required me to... well coordinate sale traffic in the used car department (appraising cars, stcking new arrivals, writing sale contracts etc...) in some cases, when my manager wasn't around I had to take care of customer issues. This one couple had resntly bought a bmw 128i convertible 2011 with about 60k kms and about 1.5 years/ 80k kms left on the certification warranty. The car was payed by the husband to his wife as a birthday gift. They where excited, they were leaving for a resort somewhere upnorth the same day that they got possetion of the car on a Friday. Monday morning I come in and had a voicemail on my office phone from the husband asking me to call him back, so I did and the issue was that the retractable roof wasnt closing anymore. Now think of this, they are up north on a trip driving a certified bmw with a roof 1/2 open !!! . I called my manager but he wasn't picking up, so i had to make an executive decision. I had my jockey bring them another car up north in exchange for the 128 so that we could take a look at it and fix the issue ( I did not want to lose that sale ) The car was. brought back. I emediatly opened a work order on behalf of my department. The car needed a new roof :(. The bill was 3000$ canadian. So i called the customer back and told him about "the solution" and he prefessionaly flipped out blaming that we dont know how to certify cars. I was able to calm him down. The next day my manger shows up and i explained to him what happened. He flipped out on me for not letting him know that I'm sending my jockey 300 kms away to get a car. long story short, customer agreed to meet us half way of the cost and labour. After this whole ordeal my manager understood that the mistake was on the service side and that the certification tech didn't check the roof. So we wrote the bill jp for the service department. when it was time to get approval from the General Manager, the service manager had added faulty time on the cert to prove that his teck checked the roof. In the end our department had to pay for it. What a piece of ...... from there on now the relationship between my manager, me and the service manager went extremly sour and 6 month later well we both got fired, because politics are who ever is bringing in more money than loses deserves to stay! Great politics huh.

[@nixondelemos7431]

Eric, you're right on the money about the dealership politics. I've seen some tech that get a guaranteed hours and not doing anything. just standing around and bossing other tech.

[@tomwiles]

You put two people together and the result is office politics. The more people you throw into the mix the worse it gets. That's one major reason I like being an over-the-road truck driver. Politics are constantly going on in the trucking company offices but I don't care as long as they keep me reasonably busy and keep depositing the pay checks to my bank account. The endless petty jealousies, gossiping, back-stabbing, etc. are things I've figured out how to completely eliminate having to personally deal with. The downside of OTR trucking for most people is constantly traveling for weeks at a time. I'm fortunate in that I find the constant travel a benefit rather than a detriment.

[@RobertPerrigoOkiechopper]

Eric you need to cover the topic of " WAITERS " @ dealerships.

[@mcdatacomm155]

Some people must wait as they have no other means of transportation..... Dontr be a "hate the customer and blame the customer ass hole"

[@RobertPerrigoOkiechopper]

@@mcdatacomm155 That's crude, You sure read a lot out of my comment .

[@qspoon22]

I'm a 20 year old technician working flat rate at a Chevy dealer. I recently graduated from UNOH with an associates degree in automotive technology. In my opinion if your young and can work fast go to a dealer the information you get is 100x better than what you get from Mitchell or all data. You often get screwed in diagnosis at least if you wanna diag it right with electrical problems but you can make it up on the job. I gotta learn how to get better with a pen. But I've never had more bays to work in, more scan tools and specialty tools to use.The best part is quick access to parts and more actual work needing done. Alignments and brakes are my gravy after working in two independent shops I've aligned many makes and models 52 hudson 64 1/2 mustang, rx7 with an engine swap and to many lifted trucks, jeeps and lowered cars. When it's something like that you gotta think outside the box to properly align it. At a dealer you find your self doing that less and more electrical diagnosis and hanging parts. Changes the feeling you get from the job. But that's just my opinion I like the dealership I work at. Been watching your videos for years better than tv and always learn something or laugh. Thanks for the Subaru videos helped me out with my own 95 legacy with a 2.2

[@PizzaSl0nger91]

the freakin intro gets me every time when you reference the toolbox and then do a crazy look lol

[@351cleavland]

The 1st dealership I worked at was a grueling place to be but I learned a lot. The 2nd was horrifically toxic. Technicians literally threw tauntums like children including throwing tools and stoping work in the other bays-Okay with bosses. Multiple discrimination lawsuits-okay with bosses. 1 Boss came up behinds workers and squeeze our nipples to cause pain and called us "piglets"-okay with bosses. Warranty work I was ordered, in certain cases, to charge customers "hush, hush." After that I was done with dealerships and relieved for it.

[@matthewjackson781]

Completely know what your talking about Eric. Just got hired on at a local Chrysler Dealership about 2 weeks ago just on the Express Lane(oil changes,tire rotations,etc.) But have already experienced the politics you speak of, haha. The best thing I've found to do is, when there's "Down Time" go around the shop & ask Techs if they need any help. This is my first job in the Automotive Service field so far & I don't have a lot of experience so they throw me some cheap shots every now & then. lol

[@CaptianAwesome20]

As a Sales person at a new and used car dealership the techs were the best guys there. They were the only people I could rely on and I took good care of them and they took good care of me and my customers. In the long run it lead to happy customers and more

[@politicallyunreliable4985]

As a service writer, I've found that going to a dealership after close to 11 years at a "retail" service shop is no cake walk. You, and your experience, are not respected.

[@LZN197]

I took warranty work very seriously and took my punches as a new mechanic. But guess what? Those skills I learned dealing with warranty type repairs keeps you sharp and really helps you out with your total career. Example. I worked on many Corvettes (warranty) in my early days. Those same customers later were good customers who paid GOOD money to get other repairs later in the life of that vehicle. Some even waited in line. This video hit it right on the head as far as facts and politics.

[@Paulpenuk]

From someone thats been in a main Honda dealer for 10 years and folling you for a few its amazing how you you can put accross what I think and how it is :)

[@joewood7976]

As a former buick master mechanic, it was my experiance that all you said was very true , but you left out the bribery and kickbacks to the service writers and dispachers. so to me in the end if you are not of the click you starve.

[@alexhenkhaus31]

Awesome video. I'm a new lube tech looking to become a service tech. The politics are the hardest part for me to understand in this environment..

[@k0rndog93]

I'm a lot attendant/technician at my local Toyota/GM dealership and I see all types of different politics every day. Just let me move my cars and wash them and keep me out of it lol. I think my job is cool, because I unload brand new vehicles off the truck, sign them in, and lot prep them. I am the guy that gets the customer's potential new car ready to go. It's first fill up, it's first wash, etc. It's a fulfilling feeling.

[@panzerveps]

I work for a dealer, and we spend a lot of time to write down exactly what we've done after a warranty job. I had to remove a loose screw near the sun roof. Popped the cabin light out, removed the screw and wrote down a, b, c and d pillar covers and roof cover for it.

[@bhishakgreenleaf5295]

I work as a resident technician for a forklift dealer. Yes, we have similar problems except we do not get paid flat rate and I am the one out at the customer's location. I have many repeat customers, after all if you have 15 machines you need someone to be in the place regularly. I get to know a lot of the people from top to bottom that work there. They have the same problems with politics. About the only places that don't are very small outfits like 3 man shows. It is amazing to me how one person coming or going from a place can change everything. And when they show up somewhere else the same problems surface there.

[@usayacolt]

Everyone in the dealership should be working for the Mech.( make my path strait) Writers should write orders talk to the mech. find parts and call customers. Parts guys need to have the parts yesterday. Mechs sould have the time to find faults and do engine and drive train work. The young/new service guys should be doing the service/tires and by the numbers. If you got good Mech/ techs doing good work and no cars being towed back. You got a good shop. When ever you got A service writer or part guy thinking he dont work for the Mech/Tech. Dont forget when times get rough and they are down sizing you will be gone. Becuase the Mech/Tech. can write orders and call customers and order parts. No need for cocky Service writers and thick neck part guys. Its just the way it is.... Remember we are all a team(like a football team) working for a common goal.

[@livefree1030]

Worked for my cousin whom at the time was a parts/service director for a dealership franchise. Right out of high school the dealer sponsored me through college. Work hard as a mechanic becoming a senior master with diesel specialty. Soon my cousin became an owner of a FORD DEALER and other franchises. After 15 years I through in the towel. He was a crook. Became rich by screwing his employees, and promoting the personnel who everyone knew were committing fraud. And when audits came from corporate, he points the finger. Well, I had a guy loyal to the original owners and was 57 years old, and worked their for 25 years far before my cousin purchased a minority stake in the company (currently own 100%). My cousin took his retirement pension and bought himself 40 acres with some of that money. I felt so bad for this co worker. I since decided to leave a part ways from a mentor who I loathed his values and ethics. He also black balled me when I blew my back out being rushed to rebuild a diesel engine. Apparently my workers comp claim cost him $$$. Dealerships are casinos.

[@neilsdahlberg1323]

Muddy shark-infested waters--"Family Dealerships"...

[@JoeFpoc]

the independent shop i just left was always very busy. we had a great location across the street from a train station so people would drop off work and then go to work. we were a small 2 bay garage, just me and 1 other mechanic who works 1/3rd of my speed so i never get out of there on time since he started so i found myself having to work twice as hard/fast to make up for all the slacking of that guy.... yesterday was my last day there, that shop is screwed

[@brettmauseth4211]

I've seen dealerships go both ways. First one; the entire service department was underpaid, especially the service advisors. The manager was well compensated though. We had such a high turnover rate that nothing seemed to get finished by the same tech or advisor. Their labor rate was a total scam, the more you bought, the more expensive the rate was, up to $180.00/hour. Finally, I threw in the towel after 3 years and moved on. Now; the Chevy dealership I work at is the complete opposite. Great pay and benefits.

[@evilcowboy]

Thats because GM in terms of their employment pwns the shit out of smaller dealerships. So once again in terms of employment GM for the win, in terms of product yeah you guess it GM for the win. lol And I don't even work for GM but I am aspiring to be a mechanical engineer and they are in my sights in terms of job desire. they have had their ups and downs as most companies but the one thing that usually remains is when they find something that works then they usually stick with it and just update it. Oh and Ransom Eli Olds who created Olds Automobiles particularly the curved dash was the first mass produced auto manufactured on an assembly line. NOT FORD. lmfao

[@les4lifepaul]

evilcowboy Well working on GM will always keep you employed since they build total shit. There isn't a car made in the US worth 2 shits, full size trucks maybe, but even those are getting worse as they are forced to become more technical for emissions reasons. You'll see.

[@Elricck]

+les4lifepaul Astro van. Bonehead. And the BPO division did some ok stuff.

[@les4lifepaul]

Elricck lmao, you think the astro van was a swell vehicle then call me a bonehead-yeah, we're done here. I can see you know everything.

[@Elricck]

+les4lifepaul i was enjoying the camaraderie till you didnt. We all have bones in our head so Jeez... Anyways, the Astros I worked on their owners swear by em. GM does have alot of crap thats true.

[@MyDyerMaker]

Politics is in any job. Treat everyone how you want to be treated, but don't trust anyone to the point that something you say or do could come back to bite you. I'm thankful that I'm a small percentage partner in a business and that my boss is a good friend who hired me right out of college in 2007. I do trust him because we've proven our loyalty to each other over a decade.

[@built2last31]

we fight over the PDI's lol

[@ryansauto93]

Definitely agree. Workplace politics is a complicated issue and there's a lot to be said about it. Everybody has an ego and their own agenda. I often have sympathy for technicians and salesmen who are forced to (for lack of a better word) "screw" the customer because of their unscrupulous bosses, which is where the real problems can stem from. Position, seniority, and more all come into play with any workplace politics.

[@iguala05]

Nailed it!! I'm working for a Toyota dealership as a painter. They like to pay very minimal. Warranty jobs suck!! Glad Il be leaving in a week or so.

[@ym-wf3hi]

Thank you eric for the informative videos, i want to be come a auto tech myself and love learning for your channel

[@scottxp800]

At a Dealership, the Dispatcher and Service Advisors need to like you. If you want good work being friendly with them will make or break your dealership experience. You don't have to like them but you do have to treat them with the same respect you would expect for yourself. Oh, don't forget a good parts guy. You need parts and the right parts to be effective.

[@spacetrucker2952]

When I worked for a certain Ford dealership, I worked alone in the back of the shop on the P-71 fleet cars. That's all I worked on and I didn't talk to those other assholes. I minded my own shit and did my job and went home.

[@rpenvasa]

You have excellent communication.

[@bash5995]

I am a Registered Nurse working for a large therapy company in an office setting and there is still politics involved. I worked as a light duty technician in a Pontiac, Buick, GMC dealership years ago and I saw a lot of "Cut-throat" activity. If you were friends with the one service writer we had, you got the good stuff, if not, then you got what was left.

[@Dake21]

When the Suzuki dealership was still around it was very small and I could talk to the technician directly after he did a job on my vehicle. It was awesome, we both were on good terms and in the end it gave me a good customer experience. When it moved next door to the bigger Mitsubishi dealership I couldn't do that. I am now speaking trough a middle man that doesn't know anything about cars and I never know what really is going on. I hate this dealership structure.

[@jaredw692]

My dealership experience everybody tries to throw everybody else under the bus to try and look better, I had 4 service writers in 3 years all were new with no automotive experience, dealer had to many mechanics so there was never enough work to go around, owners had kids working in every department and they were WELL aware of there name being on the building, people stole from the dealer (including service manager) and were never fired when caught, your engine lift was a forklift and your stand was the floor. Thats what kind of dealer you get with no competition within an hour crap people with crap service becuase where else would you go.

[@chillhouse8327]

0.2 for an oil change!? I feel really lucky for getting 1.0-2.0hrs(0.7 warranty) and I work on german cars so I don't even have to lift them usually.Dealer politics are interesting I've found that you'll always get good work coming to you if your nice to everyone. Unfortunately if your one of the top 5 techs at the dealer that's getting screwed, you get screwed the entire time your there regardless of how you act.

[@EddieLeal]

I worked for a very short period at a a Toyota dealership. Was not what I expected.

[@waiting4aliens]

You forgot to add dispatch, the person who decides who get's the gravy, and who gets the warranty tickets. One time when the regular dispatcher was out, and a service writer was drafted to replace him the acclaim was to the ceilings. She was offered his job, but her heart was in selling service. A bunch of us left after the change back seeing what we should have been making.

[@Acuransx135]

My Dad has been in the auto industry his whole life be it from car wash guy all the way to a finance manager which he is now. He's also been a store manager for a parts store. And yes there's a lot of politics involved. In every field of the industry.

[@thinkpad411]

I'm only a young guy, but i see alot of inefficiencies at our Chrysler shop and just the way they do things in general. Like for example getting the wash boy to wash cars even when it's raining and shitty out, if you skipped those washes because they are going to get dirty as soon as they drive off the lot, you could have saved the soap and hot water which adds up. He could have been doing something else like cleaning up the shop which is important.

[@Alexzerian]

I work as i car porter at a Honda dealership, i wash and drive cars back to the lot. I wanted to be a service writer to make more money but then I heard that the boss is awful. One writer said that he doesn't help and lock the doors with the customers inside to be finished. I asked a mechanic if it's good work and he said he already has back problems from working 10 years and still is only a semi skilled and the boss won't promote him.

[@smithraymond09029]

Whenever I take my car to a garage, which is rare, I take it to an independent garage where the guy I talk to is most likely the guy that is going to turn the wrenches. I hate dealers, their politics, their high overhead, their up selling, and their extremely high prices.

[@Lohmong209]

Right on the spot about dealership.

[@sandymarlow5929]

Nepotism IS definitely a problem

[@383corvette1]

Yes it is. My GM's son works at my shop, also there is 2 sisters that work at my shop. The GM is having sexual relations with the sisters mom. Shady deal all around.

[@heyitschinoable]

Ive been working for about 8 months as a maintenance tech for Enterprise rent a car. Best job hands down ive ever had. I work on all brand new cars all day long 40k max miles and down. We do service work for an exotics car branch. At just 4 months i worked on my first 2014 Corvette sting ray, then a porsche 911, and a Maseratti Ghibu, and a Mercedes S550 Maybach Audi r8 . Man i love it. Yes you do deal with BS and many of the young techs that work the first shift have the biggest egos u can ever imagine, 2 of the 3 techs r the most egoistic know it alls but yet have no Certs hahaha. I just steer away from that attitude and im glad i dnt act like em. The pay is way less than a dealership but still good, benifits, payed time off and payed vacation plus discounts on rentals including exotics but hey why rent those when i tesht drive them after i work on them and man do some of those haul assss.

[@TheRebuilt1]

+heyitschinoable great attitude and good luck in your future endeavors. This line of career are what you make of it and like all careers you have to have a glass half full attitude.

[@ryansauto93]

One of the biggest things I dislike about the dealer is the disconnect between the customer and the technician. At the independent shop back home, I could talk directly to the mechanic, but at the dealer I just see the service writer, my car disappears, and then it comes back with a bill. With all of these middlemen I can see where politics come into play, as well as with different departments.

[@austingibson3315]

Just out of tech school I started at a local dealership and was amazed at how many techs were unethical just to make a buck. Everyone was out for themselves and the service writers were caught in the middle of it. When I started I was told how I would progress from a lube tech up through to a service tech. After several months I went into the service managers office with my handwritten notes from the previous months of promises management had made and he just blew me off. So I loaded up my tools and walked. Never looked back. Another time I took my Jeep in for a warranty pilot bearing R&R (manual trans) and asked they put in a new clutch at the time of repair and they wanted $850 for the privilege. When I asked why since the old clutch comes out anyway, they backed off and only charged me $200 for the part. Another time they legitimately drained my mom's trans and sent her out the door. It blew within a few miles. They quoted her $3k for a rebuilt trans until I showed up and called them out on the floor. There was only 2 quarts of fluid in the trans after their "service". Stealerships is the nice term for them. I always treat them with kindness but never give them the chance to stab me in the back.

[@HerrRatz]

6 months as a detailer/ lot attendant. Sales manager was son of Owner and anything that went wrong got bucked to me as the responsible party. When a co worker was fired and I was gifted with driving her home, she let me in on all the gossip that would have gotten her fired if she was still working there. The head of the sales department was an ass and everyone fought with him behind closed doors but they couldn't find anyone to take his place so they fired people around him as they started to build up too much friction. The dealership I worked at also was in a less populated area with little turnover as far as non-warranty work. We mostly did general service and body shop work.

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

I detail cars for the body shop at a dealership. My boss's son is the painter's helper. Which is the job I wanted. Cause I want to someday be a painter. He does the worst work, but nobody's allowed to say anything about it. Meanwhile, the body men are griped at all the time. Different rules for different people.

[@SuperMegaCliff]

In my opinion, you can't judge all dealerships the same. Every one is different, no matter the manufacturer. Ive been at a Ford dealership for a month now and I love every minute of it. Getting paid to work on cars is the only thing I could wish for. Many techs talk shit and nonsence, but you gotta ignore that and focus on your job. If all you care about is making more money money money, then get out of this feild. Go to work, do your best, have fun, and youll make good money.

[@briangarner9505]

Well spoken!

[@MeowJW]

Two solutions to get rid of the politics bleeding into the shop. 1. Get rid of the flat rate system. 2. Give the independant shops the opportunity to carry out the manufacturers warranty or recall work.

[@pininfarina575]

But then, wouldn't that hurt the customers in turn? I could easily see mechanics (don't mean no disrespect, I just mean "If I'm a mechanic"), wouldn't it benefit me economically if I drag on a job a bit longer so you get paid more? From a non-mechanic person, who knows a few mechanic friends (and I understand mechanics should be paid more respect and maybe even more dimes), I think at least a part of the flat rate system is to set the standard on services. Let's say a very experienced 20 yr veteran mechanic can do one specific type of job in 1 hr, but a newbie mechanic just out of mechanic school may be able to finish that same job in 2 hrs. Why should the customer be burdened to pay more if the customer just happened to be assigned the newbie mechanic? Going further, if hourly system was employed, why would any mechanic want to get a job done quickly? That'd be counter-productive for the mechanic from monetary standpoint. I would stretch what should be a 1hr job to 1.5 or 2 hrs. I get paid more for the same amount of work that way if I'm the mechanic. And who pays for my lazy entitled work ethic? The customer. (This is just to make a point, and I'm NOT saying mechanics are lazy or entitled or have bad ethics. I'm good friends with mechanics and I respect them a huge amount for their profession) At the same time, I know that flat rate system can be played against mechanics. For example, I know one dealer (or manufacturer, I'm not sure who sets these flat rates for each type of jobs), may specify 1 hr for one type of job, but another dealer / manufacturer may be more generous in the flat rates for the same type of job. I know for one that at least that Kia dealer that one of my friend works at is very stingy with how many hrs the mechanics get paid for a job relative to the same kinda job another friend of mine gets paid at a dealer of another manufacturer. Logically speaking, a Kia service should cost less to a customer than... say... a BMW service. I don't think getting rid of flat rate system would be the way to go overall. I'd say changing the way service gets written / assigned, etc would be the better option. For example... instead of relying on the people for who gets assigned what when etc, maybe integrate some sort of computerized / automated resource planning system? All a service writer would do is take a customer in, write the service, plug it into a system, and the system will look at each mechanics queue and fill them evenly and intelligently, so that each mechanic gets even job assignment (maybe skewed a bit for experience? past job performance (this mechanic averages .5 hr for this job vs .7hrs by another mechanic, etc). I mean that's how a well functioning / efficient companies run anyways... Why can't auto dealerships / service departments do that? Just some random thoughts from someone who's outside of the mechanics / dealership world.

[@fordwindsor351]

The last 2 vehicles that I have bought and knowing about the fleet manager bit, there was one always there at the dealership.

[@wgoldenny]

There is nothing you have not covered I have been there myself and myself tossed to the gutter in 2008 from my dealership job do to the politics and never went back IM doing my own thing now. But like you mentioned if your new and you get a chance to get that dealership job the training is far worth it and well rounds you as a tech. I my self have been in the industry this summer will mark forty-one years... Wes LI, New York

[@thinkpad411]

Or keeping the lot parking system clean and organized, so that a tech or a salesman can find a car quickly and start servicing it immediately, instead of wasting time and money spending half an hour finding keys or painfully looking at each tag's stock number or finding out that the car is dead and thats why the key fob wasn't finding it.

[@ReeveHelalV]

I worked five years in as a dealership technician before I was fortunate enough to get a job working as a non flat rate fleet technician. I do not miss the dealership job. The politics in a dealership are terrible. Having worked as a fleet tech I'll never go back to a dealership tech. I'd go back to college and go into another profession before going back to a dealership.

[@adolfosalazar7889]

first of all my dad has his own independent shop in the "Barrio" its mainly used and old vehicles a few newer ones and im still going to high school but about to graduate soon and im currently working at ford dealership i'm a helper and i've been there for almost 1 year now and i've been almost everywhere in the shop (used cars, electrical a/c and trim guy, suspension or front end as some may say, lube techs, power train guys etc.. ) and my experience was fa-nominal in the beginning and i got a good experience with new cars and how dealership techs work but i kinda miss working at mi dads independent i feel theirs more pay there and i really kinda feel i learn more there but at the dealership i learn more of the theory type of how cars work so thats good but im definitely going to be doing this for a living being a mechanic or technician

[@SpencerLowe-kg4rg]

All I'll say does not matter who. As long as you respect me and I respect you. That's all I care no matter who you are

[@backwoodscryptography3708]

I've been dealership tech for 20 years and I hate it now, . completely have lost all motivation due to politics, customers, flat rate, warranty, every department being against each other, premadonna techs

[@rocketrider1405]

Most times customers can't even watch what's being done on their cars because they wait in the waiting room with TV and coffee and water, etc. .... several steps and walls away from the tech service garage.

[@EddieLeal]

7:51 "As a new tech coming in...watch your back." Now why would that statement make me nervous?" 😧😳😱😆

[@theimportschannel86]

Right here! Got fired thanks to a great, honorable and good ( been sarcastic ) co worker of mine who didn't like the way I did things and it's not that I was doing it wrong, I was just doing it the way the car manufactures recommend it to do.

[@SI0AX]

Why the hell does he care how you do it!? Everyone has their own preferred technique to get things done! Some are faster that others but some people prefer to do it the slower way because they feel more secure. They should just let people be if it's not affecting them.

[@boblolo3977]

It wasn't just me who didn't like the way you did things! If you'd just listened you'd still have your job Dennis!

[@WishIHadACummins]

I moved to a dealership after about a year, being the FNG certainly has ups and downs.

[@bburden86]

im not gonna lie, i work at a fleet shop its not full service but we do suspension brakes exhaust and alignments. i absolutely love doing what i do. i am ase certified, but i go to work early and leave late i make 12 dollars an hour but i absolutely love to do this and work for this shop

[@danhalfhill9169]

Never worked at a dealer. Always indy shops then for myself. Had some tough bosses in the past but they taught me allot and in retrospect, I'm surprised I was never fired for some of the problems I caused them, haha!

[@DoItYourselfCarGuide]

As always an inspiration :D keep up the good work and an eye on your back SD

[@ncrdisabled]

Back in the day my pop was a master mechanic for over 40 years and I learned a lot / I was 16 in 1978 and and wanted a cheap car . So he told me get a toyota I got a corolla and put over 200k miles on it. It was new and had problems with 1 dealer fixing things . If I took it to the dealer where I bought it from I got more things fixed a lot faster . I did go against my dad when I went in the NAVY I had sold my car and bought a chevette diesel . He did say do not get the gas model. The 1 thing that broke on it a lot was the clutch cable . The dealer had a lot of that car line with that problem . After 6 of them I used to carry a pair of vise grips .

[@HaroRider03088]

I dont think is completely the problem, however I would say more likely then not this is the MAJOR issue of all dealerships. I do my own work, but when I need something done I cant do (Tire mount and balance) I support my local Indy shop.

[@BurningRubberDC]

I've seen dudes fist fight over a ticket before.

[@s0nnyburnett]

Do I specifically say fleet manager? Are they usually at every dealer or do they move around between dealers as needed?

[@Manila_Beau]

Yer this happened to me, that's why im not a mechanic and I've lost jobs because of other people. You just have to do your own thing in the end like you.

[@margolo]

My buddy used to work for his family auto shop but left because his grandfather would treat him like crap.

[@94navin]

it expensive because that part was made for just your car not any other car where aftermarket parts are made to fit various cars. Also many dealer parts last alot longer and things like shocks give a more comfortable ride than aftermarket.

[@fletcherjohnson2467]

I don't have any experience as a technician, however, I'm going to school for auto tech, and already have a job lined up (starting in May after I graduate high school), at my local Toyota dealer as a lube tech. So, I'll get the feel for dealership politics, etc.